The Effects Of Vitamin E And Vitamin B (Thiamine) On The Growth Rate And Final Weight Of Tenebrio Molitor Larvae
School Name
Dutch Fork High School
Grade Level
12th Grade
Presentation Topic
Biochemistry
Presentation Type
Non-Mentored
Abstract
Tenebrio molitor larvae have the potential to be a highly significant source of food for the human population. This is critical because 2012 and 2050, the need for animal proteins is expected to increase by 70 to 80%. Many countries consume mealworms including Thailand, Mexico, The Netherlands, China, and Brazil this shows that a large percentage of the world is open to the idea of consuming mealworms. Although research has been conducted on the effects of vitamins on growth rate of mammals and fish, little is known about vitamin’s effects on holometabolous insects such as the mealworm. Yellow mealworms typically take 3-4 months to reach the maximum size before they pupate into their adult form, the darkling beetle, so the objective of this study is to determine if thiamine or vitamin E directly increases growth rate so that production of mealworms is more time efficient. In this study, the amount of days that each group of mealworms take to pupate will be measured were a smaller amount of days corresponds with a faster growth rate. The average weight will also be calculated twice every month to determine net growth. This study will demonstrate that dietary supplementation of thiamine and vitamin E increases the growth rate and net growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae.
Recommended Citation
Valenti, Nina, "The Effects Of Vitamin E And Vitamin B (Thiamine) On The Growth Rate And Final Weight Of Tenebrio Molitor Larvae" (2016). South Carolina Junior Academy of Science. 184.
https://scholarexchange.furman.edu/scjas/2016/all/184
Location
Owens 204
Start Date
4-16-2016 9:15 AM
The Effects Of Vitamin E And Vitamin B (Thiamine) On The Growth Rate And Final Weight Of Tenebrio Molitor Larvae
Owens 204
Tenebrio molitor larvae have the potential to be a highly significant source of food for the human population. This is critical because 2012 and 2050, the need for animal proteins is expected to increase by 70 to 80%. Many countries consume mealworms including Thailand, Mexico, The Netherlands, China, and Brazil this shows that a large percentage of the world is open to the idea of consuming mealworms. Although research has been conducted on the effects of vitamins on growth rate of mammals and fish, little is known about vitamin’s effects on holometabolous insects such as the mealworm. Yellow mealworms typically take 3-4 months to reach the maximum size before they pupate into their adult form, the darkling beetle, so the objective of this study is to determine if thiamine or vitamin E directly increases growth rate so that production of mealworms is more time efficient. In this study, the amount of days that each group of mealworms take to pupate will be measured were a smaller amount of days corresponds with a faster growth rate. The average weight will also be calculated twice every month to determine net growth. This study will demonstrate that dietary supplementation of thiamine and vitamin E increases the growth rate and net growth of Tenebrio molitor larvae.
